Things sounded promising when Microsoft Corp.'s (MSFT) announced nine new Windows Phone commitments at the 2014 Mobile World Congress (MWC) last month. But things took a strange turn last month when Karbonn Mobiles -- India's fourth largest phonemaker -- indicated it may only launch dual OS (or dual boot?) devices which feature Windows Phone, but also Google Inc.'s (GOOG) industry-leading Android OS.

China's Huawei Technology Comp., Ltd. (SHE:002502) has seemingly jumped on that band wagon. In an interview with Trusted Reviews, Shao Yang, Huawei’s Chief Marketing Officer, indicates that dual-OS is the company's preferred strategy. He comments:

We are still committed to making Windows Phone devices. Compared with Android, the priority of Windows Phone is much lower but is still one of our choices of OS. We are definitely using a multi OS strategy.

With Windows Phone, one direction for us – and one that we are now following – is dual OS. Dual OS as in Android and Windows together.

If it is Windows only, maybe people will not find it as easy a decision to buy the phone. If they have the Android and Windows together, you can change it as you wish and it is much easier for people to choose Windows Phone.

We think the dual OS [device] can be a new choice for the consumer. It will be on sale in the US in Q2.

We are definitely looking at other platform. For any new operating system we are open to. We need to watch every OS.... I think on this partner (Tizen) we are not very clear.

[Image Source: VR-Zone]

With both Huawei and Karbonn it is unclear whether they are putting both OSs in the same phone (dual boot) or simply offering two different variants, one with Android and one with Windows Phone.

Calling Windows Phone "low priority and relegating it to Android's little helper is pretty embarrassing for Microsoft. While any support for the world's third largest phonemaker (Huawei) is welcome, it's safe to say this wasn't what Microsoft was hoping for.

And Huawei's decision could affect some of the remaining seven international phonemakers who -- for now -- appear to remain committed to pure, exclusive Windows Phone offerings. Could Microsoft's acquired Nokia Devices unit from Nokia Oyj. (HEX:NOK1V) be left going it alone in terms of Windows Phone exclusives? That's precisely what Microsoft was trying to avoid.